Is Humanity Moving Towards Tikkun Olam and Its Ultimate Goal?

I remember one of the clearest days I had, when the old sage told me about the ultimate purpose of the world's creation.

– "How are your studies, my boy?"

– "Quite enlightening!"

– "Tell me a little about what you have understood so far."

– "I have managed to understand that there is a very clear purpose for the world and our lives. Moreover, there is a meticulously planned framework so that Hashem will achieve these goals."

– "Let's call it a global plan!"

– "I still have some questions: I know that Hashem's purpose in creating the world was to pass His goodness to man. What is this goodness?"

– "This goodness is life itself!"

– "So, from the moment man was created, was the purpose of creation achieved?"

– "Not necessarily. What Hashem has to offer us is not just limited to our existence. Hashem wants to give us meaningful lives; eternal lives that do not end with death. The goodness of Hashem means: to allow us now a good life with all the challenges, and life in the world to come, with reward."

– "And how does one achieve a meaningful life?"

– "Well, it's entirely up to you!"

– "Let me refine my question: What constitutes a meaningful life?"

– "See, Hashem gave man life with an 'instruction manual' – the Torah, where the secrets of the ideal life can be found. If we succeed in living according to the Torah, we fulfill our destiny, which is receiving the divine goodness."

– "But seemingly, a life according to the Torah is very restraining, and the people who live that way do not exploit all the possibilities that life offers them. Why doesn't Hashem offer us more enticing lives?"

– "The life promised by Hashem is enticing and enjoyable, but only for those who know it. Anyone who does not know a life via the Torah surely thinks otherwise."

– "Why is that? Wouldn't it be better if Hashem showed everyone, even those outside of this lifestyle, how positive the Torah is?"

– "Hashem is not interested in 'marketing' the Torah. He doesn't want people to seek Him due to a pull that isn't the search for pure truth. You, being essentially a seeker of truth, know that something doesn't become true just because it's presented surrounded by spotlights, palaces, and a plethora of attractions. The Torah wants us to seek it with all our heart, and once we overcome the obstacles, it will smile upon us."

The old sage paused for a moment, letting me absorb the words before continuing.

– "Moreover, to receive goodness from Hashem requires effort. Hashem doesn't want us to receive His goodness effortlessly and live like robots, perfect life without effort. On the contrary, He wants us to live our lives with choice and effort, thereby giving our lives value.

"Therefore, my boy, often we believe that the good, like the life of the Torah, is bad, and that the bad, like spending days in extended sleep or inactivity, is good. These obstacles in our path are part of Hashem's plan."

– "Interesting, but I still don't understand precisely what a meaningful life according to the Torah is. What, ultimately, does Hashem want to give us?"

– "Hashem wants us to feel the joy of being good just as He is good. He wants man to emulate Him and His attributes as much as possible. Hashem is immensely good, and so He wants us to be as well. He is merciful and wants us to be so, He performs acts of kindness and wants us to do likewise, and so on. This way, we will feel the true pleasure of life and succeed in receiving the goodness He so desires to bestow upon us. Moreover, Hashem wants us to have a continuous and close connection with Him, a connection that will give us great enjoyment."

– "As far as I understand, the purpose of the world is not general, but each person has an individual purpose."

– "Yes and no. As we've already seen, each of us has a personal destiny, but the ultimate goal is for Hashem to bestow His goodness upon all humanity, thus creating a perfect society where everyone can live meaningful lives and connect with Hashem."

– "Has this goal been achieved?"

– "Look at the world around you, and answer yourself"...

I began to reflect on it, and the conclusion I reached is no, the goal has not yet been achieved, the global plan has not yet reached its destination.

The world we live in is beset with many problems, and it is far from meeting the definition of a "perfect society". Human lives are not conducted properly because most people are not reading the instruction manual – the Torah.

Human behavior is far from correct, and it is on man to correct it. The source of behavior and mindset are still wrong among most people. In a perfect world, everyone would know that their goal is to give of themselves to others, whereas today we live primarily to receive from others. We seem to think that the more we receive, the greater we become. Hence, everyone frantically chases after wealth, luxurious homes, and cars, without considering the state of others.

A person acting out of personal interests is called by classic economists a "rational person", because that is his nature. But in a perfect world, it will be the opposite: the rational person will be one who knows to give the maximum of himself to others, because that is the way to accumulate true wealth. After all, money is not what's important, but good deeds and understanding the world.

Another example of the prevalent failure in the modern world can be seen in any standard group of youths, where the hero is, more often than not, the cunning one who stands out at others' expense, who manages to leave the supermarket without paying, who consumes too many alcoholic drinks at too young an age, and makes jokes at the expense of his friends to stand out and be more accepted.

On the other hand, those who respect their parents, act with honesty and kindness towards others, find themselves sidelined, and their popularity index plummets.

Have you never felt it yourself? What happens if someone tells their friends they can't join a certain activity because their parents don't allow it? They are likely to be laughed at. And if someone wants to pay for a breakfast at a hotel, even though their friends found a "deal" allowing them to eat for free without the manager's knowledge? Surely they will be laughed at!

These simple examples illustrate the wrong concepts prevalent in today's world. The bad ones are seen as heroes, while the true heroes are perceived as foolish, so there is much to correct!

Reflecting on these, I said to the old sage:

– "Yes, Rabbi, the world is still far from ideal... But is humanity at least advancing in the right direction?"

– "Everyone longs to live in a more just world. Humanity has been progressing in this direction since its beginning, and today, many people believe in one unique Hashem, despite the differences between these beliefs."

– "If so, what should we do to realize the 'global plan' that is the purpose of creation?"

– "Many strive to find a perfect world but feel frustrated. Others fight so hard that they end up being more unjust than others... We, on the other hand, must do our part. Alone, we cannot change the world, but we must know exactly what Hashem wants from each of us, and believe that He will take care of the rest. We must have complete faith in Hashem, knowing that the world will continue to exist and we are partners with Hashem in achieving this goal."

From the book "Dan's Journey to Discover the Meaning of Life," by Roni Dayan. To purchase the book from Hidabroot Shops, click here.